Stadium delays still a concern as Confed Cup looms

SAO PAULO (AP) — With only three months to go before the Confederations Cup begins in Brazil, there are signs the stadiums may not be ready for the World Cup test event.

Ademir Rodrigues

This January 2013 photo, released by World Cup Portal, shows an aerial view of the Mane Garrincha stadium, in Brasilia, Brazil. The Confederations Cup will be played in Salvador, Belo Horizonte, Fortaleza, Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro and Recife. The stadium in Brasilia, which will host the tournament's opener, is not ready yet. Maracana, home of the final on June 30, also is yet to be finalized. (AP Photo/World Cup Portal, Ademir Rodrigues)

This January 2013 photo, released by World Cup Portal, shows an aerial view of the Mane Garrincha stadium, in Brasilia, Brazil. The Confederations Cup will be played in Salvador, Belo Horizonte, Fortaleza, Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro and Recife. The stadium in Brasilia, which will host the tournament's opener, is not ready yet. Maracana, home of the final on June 30, also is yet to be finalized. (AP Photo/World Cup Portal, Ademir Rodrigues)

This Feb. 5, 2013 photo, released by World Cup Portal, shows an aerial view of the Fonte Nova stadium, in Salvador, Brazil. Just a week before FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke returns to the country to check on the pace of preparations, local authorities in northeastern Brazil said constructors were not able to finish the Fonte Nova stadium in time for its scheduled inauguration this week. (AP Photo/World Cup Portal, Manu Dias)

In this Feb. 5, 2013 photo, released by World Cup Portal, workers are seen at the roof of Fonte Nova stadium, in Salvador, Brazil. The arena would have been the third venue to be finalized, but local authorities in northeastern Brazil said Friday that constructors are unable to finish on time for the start of the the Confederations Cup. (AP Photo/World Cup Portal, Manu Dias)

The deadline for the completion of one venue has been delayed again this week. The few stadiums opened have revealed problems, including a faulty pitch, while the recent threat of a workers' strike at Maracana stadium is also causing concern.

Local organizers have guaranteed the country will be ready but only two of the six stadiums were finalized by December as originally expected by FIFA. The recent glitches raise doubts about whether they will be ready by the new mid-April deadline established by football's governing body.

"We are certainly on a very tight schedule with a few of the stadia," FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke wrote in his regular online column. "But we trust in the commitment made by the federal government and the governors and mayors responsible that they will fulfill the guarantees they provided."

Brazil's Sports Ministry said it has "full confidence" in those responsible for the stadiums, saying the venues will all be ready by the established deadlines — April 15 for the ones used in the Confederations Cup and by the end of the year for the other six needed just for the World Cup.

"The construction work is progressing every day and there is no reason for concern," the ministry said in a statement sent to The Associated Press.

The Arena Fonte Nova in the city of Salvador would have been the third venue completed, but local authorities said Friday that constructors were unable to finish it Thursday as scheduled for its opening on March 29.

The stadium will now be officially opened on April 7, with organizers saying they need the extra time to conduct operational tests and make final adjustments, including to the pitch, despite being 95 percent completed by the end of January.

"In March there will be a transition phase to start testing all the equipment, keeping pace with the timetable established for the upcoming international events it will host," the Bahia state government said in a statement.

The 50,000-capacity Fonte Nova will host three Confederations Cup matches, including between Brazil and Italy on June 22. It will also host six World Cup matches in 2014.

FIFA usually wants venues ready at least six months before events, but it was forced to make an exception because of delays in construction.

Valcke, who will be in Brazil next week to inspect some of the venues, said the country will be entering "the final lap of preparations" when the 100-day mark to the tournament's opener is reached next week.

"Although some of the stadiums are still in the final construction phase, the local organizing committee is beginning to build up its team at the venues," he said. "This means that, together with the host cities, it is accelerating the process of preparing the stage to welcome the teams, fans and officials this June."

Only the Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte and the Arena Castelao in Fortaleza were delivered by December.

The Confederations Cup will be played in Salvador, Belo Horizonte, Fortaleza, Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro and Recife. The stadium in Brasilia, which will host the opener on June 15, isn't ready yet but work is progressing according to plan.

Maracana, home of the final on June 30, is also yet to be finalized. Construction workers almost went on strike recently, threatening the April deadline.

The Arena Castelao in the northeastern city of Fortaleza was the first new stadium to be completed, being delivered on Dec. 16. But there were problems with ticketing, telecommunication, access for fans with disabilities and traffic outside the stadium during its inauguration event in January. Valcke said the stadium passed its first test, however, calling the glitches minor and to be expected.

The Mineirao, which will host a World Cup semifinal, was delivered a few days later. But the problems at its first test event were more serious — related to pitch drainage, concession stands, bathrooms and ticket sales — and led to a fine of nearly $500,000 to the company responsible.

The sports ministry said the problems at the Mineirao were solved and dismissed issues at the Castelao, saying that the games at the venue went on as expected.